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Did anyone else watch last Sunday's episode? Watching Rick and Morty's relationship take a turn for the toxic was both compelling and unsettling for me. I also thought it was intriguing as it was twisted to watch Rick progress to a monster of a human being. Maybe there's an earlier example of this, but I feel like for the first two seasons, Rick's nihilism was made hilarious by the absurdist and improvisational comedy and world building, and while those elements are still present this season, there's a dark side of Rick coming out from underneath the woodworks. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but there was something about him telling the lead rat he wasn't special before killing him, and his [

Saw-esque game that drove the Vindicators apart and killed all but one of them, ruining Morty's childhood

] that made me notice a change in character.

There's been a lot of Rick's toxicity throughout the series (for me, the most harrowing is the Unity episode), but yeah, the show does seem to be shining its light more in that direction. I wonder if part of this is intended to be a consequence of him having adventures with Morty and becoming more cognizant of his toxicity (and doubling down to convince himself that it's not a problem). I mean, the entire reason "Pickle Rick" works is because the show immediately gives away the game: this isn't some absurdist adventure, he's simply trying to avoid therapy. And probably because he's scared the "agent of averageness" in the strip mall will recognize how corrosive he is to his family and to himself (and she does, and Sarandon knocks that scene out of the fucking park).

I guess the increased toxicity in their relationship this season was a set up for this episode.

Quoting Donald Glover

I was actually just reading about Matt Damon and he’s like, ‘There’s a culture of outrage.’ I’m like, ‘Well, they have a reason to be outraged.’ I think it’s a lot of dudes just being scared. They’re like, ‘What if I did something and I didn’t realize it?’ I’m like, ‘Deal with it.’

Another amazing episode that I need to watch again - this is a premise where I would've been more than happy with a two-parter or hourlong episode; the story comes at you so fast that it's a struggle to keep up with all the nuance and real-world parallels, to race, class, corporatism, politics. It's like they wanted to see if they could jam a season of The Wire into 22 minutes.

Another amazing episode that I need to watch again - this is a premise where I would've been more than happy with a two-parter or hourlong episode; the story comes at you so fast that it's a struggle to keep up with all the nuance and real-world parallels, to race, class, corporatism, politics. It's like they wanted to see if they could jam a season of The Wire into 22 minutes.

I felt the same way. And upon a second rewatch there's a major plot twist I missed through the first viewing. I'll leave it for folks to find for themselves but it has to do with something campaign Morty says right before he's jettisoned into space. Also, that final shot.

I was actually just reading about Matt Damon and he’s like, ‘There’s a culture of outrage.’ I’m like, ‘Well, they have a reason to be outraged.’ I think it’s a lot of dudes just being scared. They’re like, ‘What if I did something and I didn’t realize it?’ I’m like, ‘Deal with it.’

Duke's post made me consider how I know what I know. My reaction was similar to Grouch's---how does he not know that? But then I thought, wait, how do I know that? And why? It's an obscure piece of bullshit trivia that doesn't have much to do with anything. (But it was fun that R&M included it.)

Anyway this week's episode was a little lazy around the edges (too much self-referential stuff, too many lampshaded moments) but I still dug it. R&M is the only show around that continually tops itself week after week with pure crazy.

I can't remember where I know it from, either. It's like how I don't remember when I found out that Darth Vader is Luke's dad. Certainly not from watching Empire for the first time, but before that. It was just a commonly known pop culture thing that's out there that I came in contact with, and the Paul rumor was the same. It wasn't from being a Beatles fanatic.

Quoting Donald Glover

I was actually just reading about Matt Damon and he’s like, ‘There’s a culture of outrage.’ I’m like, ‘Well, they have a reason to be outraged.’ I think it’s a lot of dudes just being scared. They’re like, ‘What if I did something and I didn’t realize it?’ I’m like, ‘Deal with it.’

Anyway, this Beth episode is seriously disturbing. Feels like a direct sequel to Pickle Rick, which I'm sure was the intention.

Good thing Jerry's got a B-plot to provide the laugh out loud stuff.

Quoting Donald Glover

I was actually just reading about Matt Damon and he’s like, ‘There’s a culture of outrage.’ I’m like, ‘Well, they have a reason to be outraged.’ I think it’s a lot of dudes just being scared. They’re like, ‘What if I did something and I didn’t realize it?’ I’m like, ‘Deal with it.’